{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/54.1-700.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/54.1-700.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/54.1-700.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/54.1-700.html"}],"law_id":81123,"edition_id":1,"section_id":81123,"structure_id":15007,"section_number":"54.1-700","catch_line":"Definitions","history":"1962, c. 639, \u00a7 1, \u00a7 54-83.2; 1966, c. 610; 1973, c. 86; 1974, c. 534; 1988, c. 765; 2000, c. 726; 2002, cc. 797, 869; 2003, c. 600; 2005, c. 829; 2012, cc. 803, 835; 2017, c. 390; 2018, cc. 219, 231, 237, 404; 2025, cc. 102, 308, 322.","full_text":"As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t“Barber” means any person who shaves, shapes or trims the beard; cuts, singes, or dyes the hair or applies lotions thereto; applies, treats or massages the face, neck or scalp with oils, creams, lotions, cosmetics, antiseptics, powders, clays or other preparations in connection with shaving, cutting or trimming the hair or beard, and practices barbering for compensation and when such services are not performed for the treatment of disease.\n\t\t“Barbering” means any one or any combination of the following acts, when done on the human body for compensation and not for the treatment of disease, shaving, shaping and trimming the beard; cutting, singeing, or dyeing the hair or applying lotions thereto; applications, treatment or massages of the face, neck or scalp with oils, creams, lotions, cosmetics, antiseptics, powders, clays, or other preparations in connection with shaving, cutting or trimming the hair or a beard. The term “barbering” shall not apply to the acts described hereinabove when performed by any person in his home if such service is not offered to the public.\n\t\t“Barber instructor” means any person who has been certified by the Board as having completed an approved curriculum and who meets the competency standards of the Board as an instructor of barbering.\n\t\t“Barbershop” means any establishment or place of business within which the practice of barbering is engaged in or carried on by one or more barbers.\n\t\t“Board” means the Board for Barbers and Cosmetology.\n\t\t“Body-piercer” means any person who for remuneration penetrates the skin of a person to make a hole, mark, or scar, generally permanent in nature.\n\t\t“Body-piercing” means the act of penetrating the skin of a person to make a hole, mark, or scar, generally permanent in nature.\n\t\t“Body-piercing salon” means any place in which a fee is charged for the act of penetrating the skin of a person to make a hole, mark, or scar, generally permanent in nature.\n\t\t“Body-piercing school” means a place or establishment licensed by the Board to accept and train students in body-piercing.\n\t\t“Cosmetologist” means any person who administers hair removal treatments; administers basic facial treatments to enhance or improve the appearance and care of the skin using lotions, oils, cleansers, or other preparations by manual practices only; manicures or pedicures the nails of any person; arranges, dresses, curls, waves, cuts, shapes, singes, waxes, tweezes, trims, bleaches, colors, relaxes, straightens, or performs similar work, upon human hair, or a wig or hairpiece, by any means, including hands or mechanical or electrical apparatus or appliances unless such acts as adjusting, combing, or brushing prestyled wigs or hairpieces do not alter the prestyled nature of the wig or hairpiece, and practices cosmetology for compensation. The term “cosmetologist” does not include hair braiding upon human hair or a wig or hairpiece.\n\t\t“Cosmetology” includes the following practices: administering hair removal treatments; administering basic cleansing facial treatments to enhance or improve the appearance and care of the skin, which only includes a cleanse, tone, and application of a mask or moisturizer; manicuring or pedicuring the nails of any person; arranging, dressing, curling, waving, cutting, shaping, singeing, waxing, tweezing, trimming, bleaching, coloring, relaxing, straightening, or similar work, upon human hair, or a wig or hairpiece, by any means, including hands or mechanical or electrical apparatus or appliances, but shall not include hair braiding upon human hair, or a wig or hairpiece, or such acts as adjusting, combing, or brushing prestyled wigs or hairpieces when such acts do not alter the prestyled nature of the wig or hairpiece.\n\t\t“Cosmetology instructor” means a person who has been certified by the Board as having completed an approved curriculum and who meets the competency standards of the Board as an instructor of cosmetology.\n\t\t“Cosmetology salon” means any commercial establishment, residence, vehicle or other establishment, place or event wherein cosmetology is offered or practiced on a regular basis for compensation and may include the training of apprentices under regulations of the Board.\n\t\t“Ear-piercer” means any person who for remuneration penetrates the ear of a person to make a hole, mark, or scar, generally permanent in nature.\n\t\t“Ear-piercing” means the act of penetrating the ear of a person to make a hole, mark, or scar, generally permanent in nature.\n\t\t“Ear-piercing salon” means any place in which a fee is charged for the act of penetrating the ear by the aid of needles or any other instrument designed to touch or puncture the skin.\n\t\t“Ear-piercing school” means a place or establishment licensed by the Board to accept and train students in ear-piercing.\n\t\t“Esthetician” means a person who engages in the practice of esthetics for compensation.\n\t\t“Esthetics” includes the following practices of administering cosmetic treatments to enhance or improve the appearance of the skin: cleansing, toning, performing effleurage or other related movements, stimulating, exfoliating, or performing any other similar procedure on the skin of the human body or scalp by means of cosmetic preparations, treatments, or any nonlaser device, whether by electrical, mechanical, or manual means, for care of the skin; applying make-up or eyelashes to any person, tinting or perming eyelashes and eyebrows, and lightening hair on the body except the scalp; and removing unwanted hair from the body of any person by the use of any nonlaser device, by tweezing, or by use of chemical or mechanical means. However, “esthetics” is not a healing art and shall not include any practice, activity, or treatment that constitutes the practice of medicine, osteopathic medicine, or chiropractic. The terms “healing arts,”\"practice of medicine,”\"practice of osteopathic medicine,” and “practice of chiropractic” shall mean the same as those terms are defined in \u00a7 54.1-2900.\n\t\t“Esthetics instructor” means a licensed esthetician who has been certified by the Board as having completed an approved curriculum and who meets the competency standards of the Board as an instructor of esthetics.\n\t\t“Esthetics spa” means any commercial establishment, residence, vehicle, or other establishment, place, or event wherein esthetics is offered or practiced on a regular basis for compensation under regulations of the Board.\n\t\t“Master barber” means a licensed barber who, in addition to the practice of barbering, performs waving, shaping, bleaching, relaxing, or straightening upon human hair; performs similar work on a wig or hairpiece; or performs waxing limited to the scalp.\n\t\t“Master esthetician” means a licensed esthetician who, in addition to the practice of esthetics, offers to the public for compensation, without the use of laser technology, lymphatic drainage, chemical exfoliation, or microdermabrasion, and who has met such additional requirements as determined by the Board to practice lymphatic drainage, chemical exfoliation with products other than Schedules II through VI controlled substances as defined in the Drug Control Act (\u00a7 54.1-3400 et seq.), and microdermabrasion of the epidermis.\n\t\t“Nail care” means manicuring or pedicuring natural nails or performing artificial nail services.\n\t\t“Nail salon” means any commercial establishment, residence, vehicle or other establishment, place or event wherein nail care is offered or practiced on a regular basis for compensation and may include the training of apprentices under regulations of the Board.\n\t\t“Nail school” means a place or establishment licensed by the board to accept and train students in nail care.\n\t\t“Nail technician” means any person who for compensation manicures or pedicures natural nails, or who performs artificial nail services for compensation, or any combination thereof.\n\t\t“Nail technician instructor” means a licensed nail technician who has been certified by the Board as having completed an approved curriculum and who meets the competency standards of the Board as an instructor of nail care.\n\t\t“Physical (wax) depilatory” means the wax depilatory product or substance used to remove superfluous hair.\n\t\t“School of cosmetology” means a place or establishment licensed by the Board to accept and train students and which offers a cosmetology curriculum approved by the Board.\n\t\t“School of esthetics” means a place or establishment licensed by the Board to accept and train students and which offers an esthetics curriculum approved by the Board.\n\t\t“Tattoo parlor” means any place in which tattooing is offered or practiced.\n\t\t“Tattoo school” means a place or establishment licensed by the Board to accept and train students in tattooing.\n\t\t“Tattooer” means any person who for remuneration practices tattooing.\n\t\t“Tattooing” means the placing of designs, letters, scrolls, figures, symbols or any other marks upon or under the skin of any person with ink or any other substance, resulting in the permanent coloration of the skin, including permanent make-up or permanent jewelry, by the aid of needles or any other instrument designed to touch or puncture the skin.\n\t\t“Wax technician” means any person licensed by the Board who removes hair from the hair follicle using a physical (wax) depilatory or by tweezing.\n\t\t“Wax technician instructor” means a licensed wax technician who has been certified by the Board as having completed an approved curriculum and who meets the competency standards of the Board as an instructor of waxing.\n\t\t“Waxing” means the temporary removal of superfluous hair from the hair follicle on any area of the human body through the use of a physical (wax) depilatory or by tweezing.\n\t\t“Waxing salon” means any commercial establishment, residence, vehicle or other establishment, place or event wherein waxing is offered or practiced on a regular basis for compensation and may include the training of apprentices under regulations of the Board.\n\t\t“Waxing school” means a place or establishment licensed by the Board to accept and train students in waxing.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":290781,"text":"As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t“Barber” means any person who shaves, shapes or trims the beard; cuts, singes, or dyes the hair or applies lotions thereto; applies, treats or massages the face, neck or scalp with oils, creams, lotions, cosmetics, antiseptics, powders, clays or other preparations in connection with shaving, cutting or trimming the hair or beard, and practices barbering for compensation and when such services are not performed for the treatment of disease.\n\t\t“Barbering” means any one or any combination of the following acts, when done on the human body for compensation and not for the treatment of disease, shaving, shaping and trimming the beard; cutting, singeing, or dyeing the hair or applying lotions thereto; applications, treatment or massages of the face, neck or scalp with oils, creams, lotions, cosmetics, antiseptics, powders, clays, or other preparations in connection with shaving, cutting or trimming the hair or a beard. The term “barbering” shall not apply to the acts described hereinabove when performed by any person in his home if such service is not offered to the public.\n\t\t“Barber instructor” means any person who has been certified by the Board as having completed an approved curriculum and who meets the competency standards of the Board as an instructor of barbering.\n\t\t“Barbershop” means any establishment or place of business within which the practice of barbering is engaged in or carried on by one or more barbers.\n\t\t“Board” means the Board for Barbers and Cosmetology.\n\t\t“Body-piercer” means any person who for remuneration penetrates the skin of a person to make a hole, mark, or scar, generally permanent in nature.\n\t\t“Body-piercing” means the act of penetrating the skin of a person to make a hole, mark, or scar, generally permanent in nature.\n\t\t“Body-piercing salon” means any place in which a fee is charged for the act of penetrating the skin of a person to make a hole, mark, or scar, generally permanent in nature.\n\t\t“Body-piercing school” means a place or establishment licensed by the Board to accept and train students in body-piercing.\n\t\t“Cosmetologist” means any person who administers hair removal treatments; administers basic facial treatments to enhance or improve the appearance and care of the skin using lotions, oils, cleansers, or other preparations by manual practices only; manicures or pedicures the nails of any person; arranges, dresses, curls, waves, cuts, shapes, singes, waxes, tweezes, trims, bleaches, colors, relaxes, straightens, or performs similar work, upon human hair, or a wig or hairpiece, by any means, including hands or mechanical or electrical apparatus or appliances unless such acts as adjusting, combing, or brushing prestyled wigs or hairpieces do not alter the prestyled nature of the wig or hairpiece, and practices cosmetology for compensation. The term “cosmetologist” does not include hair braiding upon human hair or a wig or hairpiece.\n\t\t“Cosmetology” includes the following practices: administering hair removal treatments; administering basic cleansing facial treatments to enhance or improve the appearance and care of the skin, which only includes a cleanse, tone, and application of a mask or moisturizer; manicuring or pedicuring the nails of any person; arranging, dressing, curling, waving, cutting, shaping, singeing, waxing, tweezing, trimming, bleaching, coloring, relaxing, straightening, or similar work, upon human hair, or a wig or hairpiece, by any means, including hands or mechanical or electrical apparatus or appliances, but shall not include hair braiding upon human hair, or a wig or hairpiece, or such acts as adjusting, combing, or brushing prestyled wigs or hairpieces when such acts do not alter the prestyled nature of the wig or hairpiece.\n\t\t“Cosmetology instructor” means a person who has been certified by the Board as having completed an approved curriculum and who meets the competency standards of the Board as an instructor of cosmetology.\n\t\t“Cosmetology salon” means any commercial establishment, residence, vehicle or other establishment, place or event wherein cosmetology is offered or practiced on a regular basis for compensation and may include the training of apprentices under regulations of the Board.\n\t\t“Ear-piercer” means any person who for remuneration penetrates the ear of a person to make a hole, mark, or scar, generally permanent in nature.\n\t\t“Ear-piercing” means the act of penetrating the ear of a person to make a hole, mark, or scar, generally permanent in nature.\n\t\t“Ear-piercing salon” means any place in which a fee is charged for the act of penetrating the ear by the aid of needles or any other instrument designed to touch or puncture the skin.\n\t\t“Ear-piercing school” means a place or establishment licensed by the Board to accept and train students in ear-piercing.\n\t\t“Esthetician” means a person who engages in the practice of esthetics for compensation.\n\t\t“Esthetics” includes the following practices of administering cosmetic treatments to enhance or improve the appearance of the skin: cleansing, toning, performing effleurage or other related movements, stimulating, exfoliating, or performing any other similar procedure on the skin of the human body or scalp by means of cosmetic preparations, treatments, or any nonlaser device, whether by electrical, mechanical, or manual means, for care of the skin; applying make-up or eyelashes to any person, tinting or perming eyelashes and eyebrows, and lightening hair on the body except the scalp; and removing unwanted hair from the body of any person by the use of any nonlaser device, by tweezing, or by use of chemical or mechanical means. However, “esthetics” is not a healing art and shall not include any practice, activity, or treatment that constitutes the practice of medicine, osteopathic medicine, or chiropractic. The terms “healing arts,”\"practice of medicine,”\"practice of osteopathic medicine,” and “practice of chiropractic” shall mean the same as those terms are defined in \u00a7 54.1-2900.\n\t\t“Esthetics instructor” means a licensed esthetician who has been certified by the Board as having completed an approved curriculum and who meets the competency standards of the Board as an instructor of esthetics.\n\t\t“Esthetics spa” means any commercial establishment, residence, vehicle, or other establishment, place, or event wherein esthetics is offered or practiced on a regular basis for compensation under regulations of the Board.\n\t\t“Master barber” means a licensed barber who, in addition to the practice of barbering, performs waving, shaping, bleaching, relaxing, or straightening upon human hair; performs similar work on a wig or hairpiece; or performs waxing limited to the scalp.\n\t\t“Master esthetician” means a licensed esthetician who, in addition to the practice of esthetics, offers to the public for compensation, without the use of laser technology, lymphatic drainage, chemical exfoliation, or microdermabrasion, and who has met such additional requirements as determined by the Board to practice lymphatic drainage, chemical exfoliation with products other than Schedules II through VI controlled substances as defined in the Drug Control Act (\u00a7 54.1-3400 et seq.), and microdermabrasion of the epidermis.\n\t\t“Nail care” means manicuring or pedicuring natural nails or performing artificial nail services.\n\t\t“Nail salon” means any commercial establishment, residence, vehicle or other establishment, place or event wherein nail care is offered or practiced on a regular basis for compensation and may include the training of apprentices under regulations of the Board.\n\t\t“Nail school” means a place or establishment licensed by the board to accept and train students in nail care.\n\t\t“Nail technician” means any person who for compensation manicures or pedicures natural nails, or who performs artificial nail services for compensation, or any combination thereof.\n\t\t“Nail technician instructor” means a licensed nail technician who has been certified by the Board as having completed an approved curriculum and who meets the competency standards of the Board as an instructor of nail care.\n\t\t“Physical (wax) depilatory” means the wax depilatory product or substance used to remove superfluous hair.\n\t\t“School of cosmetology” means a place or establishment licensed by the Board to accept and train students and which offers a cosmetology curriculum approved by the Board.\n\t\t“School of esthetics” means a place or establishment licensed by the Board to accept and train students and which offers an esthetics curriculum approved by the Board.\n\t\t“Tattoo parlor” means any place in which tattooing is offered or practiced.\n\t\t“Tattoo school” means a place or establishment licensed by the Board to accept and train students in tattooing.\n\t\t“Tattooer” means any person who for remuneration practices tattooing.\n\t\t“Tattooing” means the placing of designs, letters, scrolls, figures, symbols or any other marks upon or under the skin of any person with ink or any other substance, resulting in the permanent coloration of the skin, including permanent make-up or permanent jewelry, by the aid of needles or any other instrument designed to touch or puncture the skin.\n\t\t“Wax technician” means any person licensed by the Board who removes hair from the hair follicle using a physical (wax) depilatory or by tweezing.\n\t\t“Wax technician instructor” means a licensed wax technician who has been certified by the Board as having completed an approved curriculum and who meets the competency standards of the Board as an instructor of waxing.\n\t\t“Waxing” means the temporary removal of superfluous hair from the hair follicle on any area of the human body through the use of a physical (wax) depilatory or by tweezing.\n\t\t“Waxing salon” means any commercial establishment, residence, vehicle or other establishment, place or event wherein waxing is offered or practiced on a regular basis for compensation and may include the training of apprentices under regulations of the Board.\n\t\t“Waxing school” means a place or establishment licensed by the Board to accept and train students in waxing.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":15007,"edition_id":1,"name":"Barbers and Cosmetologists","identifier":"7","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12755,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:51:27","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:51:27","permalink":{"id":240869,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15007,"identifier":"7","token":"54.1\/II\/7","url":"\/54.1\/II\/7\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12755,"edition_id":1,"name":"Professions and Occupations Regulated by the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation and Boards Within the Department","identifier":"II","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12754,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","permalink":{"id":239415,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12755,"identifier":"II","token":"54.1\/II","url":"\/54.1\/II\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12754,"edition_id":1,"name":"Professions and Occupations","identifier":"54.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","permalink":{"id":239313,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12754,"identifier":"54.1","token":"54.1","url":"\/54.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":81123,"structure_id":15007,"section_number":"54.1-700","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/54.1-700\/","token":"54.1\/II\/7\/54.1-700","metadata":false},{"id":80340,"structure_id":15007,"section_number":"54.1-700.1","catch_line":"Cosmetology Compact","url":"\/54.1-700.1\/","token":"54.1\/II\/7\/54.1-700.1","metadata":false},{"id":58376,"structure_id":15007,"section_number":"54.1-701","catch_line":"Exemptions","url":"\/54.1-701\/","token":"54.1\/II\/7\/54.1-701","metadata":false},{"id":82813,"structure_id":15007,"section_number":"54.1-702","catch_line":"Board for Barbers and Cosmetology; membership; officers; quorum","url":"\/54.1-702\/","token":"54.1\/II\/7\/54.1-702","metadata":false},{"id":64611,"structure_id":15007,"section_number":"54.1-703","catch_line":"License required","url":"\/54.1-703\/","token":"54.1\/II\/7\/54.1-703","metadata":false},{"id":80186,"structure_id":15007,"section_number":"54.1-703.1","catch_line":"Waiver of examination; wax technicians","url":"\/54.1-703.1\/","token":"54.1\/II\/7\/54.1-703.1","metadata":false},{"id":63824,"structure_id":15007,"section_number":"54.1-703.2","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/54.1-703.2\/","token":"54.1\/II\/7\/54.1-703.2","metadata":false},{"id":64327,"structure_id":15007,"section_number":"54.1-703.3","catch_line":"Waiver of examination; estheticians","url":"\/54.1-703.3\/","token":"54.1\/II\/7\/54.1-703.3","metadata":false},{"id":57226,"structure_id":15007,"section_number":"54.1-704","catch_line":"Temporary licenses","url":"\/54.1-704\/","token":"54.1\/II\/7\/54.1-704","metadata":false},{"id":82219,"structure_id":15007,"section_number":"54.1-704.1","catch_line":"License required for barbershop, cosmetology salon, nail care salon, waxing salon, tattoo parlor, body-piercing salon, ear-piercing 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ear-piercers","url":"\/54.1-707\/","token":"54.1\/II\/7\/54.1-707","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":80340,"structure_id":15007,"section_number":"54.1-700.1","catch_line":"Cosmetology Compact","url":"\/54.1-700.1\/","token":"54.1\/II\/7\/54.1-700.1","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/54.1-700\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1962. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 639 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1962 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 12 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1966, chapter 610; in 1973, chapter 86; in 1974, chapter 534; in 1988, chapter 765; in 2000, chapter 726<\/a>; in 2002, chapters 797<\/a> and 869<\/a>; in 2003, chapter 600<\/a>; in 2005, chapter 829<\/a>; in 2012, chapters 803<\/a> and 835<\/a>; in 2017, chapter 390<\/a>; in 2018, chapters 219<\/a>, 231<\/a>, 237<\/a>, and 404<\/a>; in 2025, chapters 102<\/a>, 308<\/a>, and 322<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":63247,"section_number":"63.2-621","catch_line":"Restrictions on use of TANF cash assistance","order_by":null,"url":"\/63.2-621\/"},{"id":73227,"section_number":"8.01-42.6","catch_line":"Liability of employer for personal injury or death by wrongful act","order_by":null,"url":"\/8.01-42.6\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":63078,"section_number":"54.1-2900","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-2900\/"},{"id":77846,"section_number":"54.1-3400","catch_line":"Citation","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-3400\/"}],"permalink":{"id":240871,"object_type":"law","relational_id":81123,"identifier":"54.1-700","token":"54.1\/II\/7\/54.1-700","url":"\/54.1-700\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/54.1-700\/","token":"54.1\/II\/7\/54.1-700","dublin_core":{"Title":"Definitions","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 54.1-700","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t“Barber” means any person who shaves, shapes or trims the beard; cuts, singes, or dyes the hair or applies lotions thereto; applies, treats or massages the face, neck or scalp with oils, creams, lotions, cosmetics, antiseptics, powders, clays or other preparations in connection with shaving, cutting or trimming the hair or beard, and practices barbering<\/span> for compensation and when such services are not performed for the treatment of disease.\n\t\t“Barbering<\/span>” means any one or any combination of the following acts, when done on the human body for compensation and not for the treatment of disease, shaving, shaping and trimming the beard; cutting, singeing, or dyeing the hair or applying lotions thereto; applications, treatment or massages of the face, neck or scalp with oils, creams, lotions, cosmetics, antiseptics, powders, clays, or other preparations in connection with shaving, cutting or trimming the hair or a beard. The term “barbering<\/span>” shall not apply to the acts described hereinabove when performed by any person in his home if such service is not offered to the public.\n\t\t“Barber instructor<\/span>” means any person who has been certified by the Board<\/span> as having completed an approved curriculum and who meets the competency standards of the Board<\/span> as an instructor of barbering<\/span>.\n\t\t“Barbershop<\/span>” means any establishment or place of business within which the practice of barbering<\/span> is engaged in or carried on by one or more barbers<\/span>.\n\t\t“Board<\/span>” means the Board<\/span> for Barbers<\/span> and Cosmetology.\n\t\t“Body-piercer<\/span>” means any person who for remuneration penetrates the skin of a person to make a hole, mark, or scar, generally permanent in nature.\n\t\t“Body-piercing” means the act of penetrating the skin of a person to make a hole, mark, or scar, generally permanent in nature.\n\t\t“Body-piercing salon<\/span>” means any place in which a fee is charged for the act of penetrating the skin of a person to make a hole, mark, or scar, generally permanent in nature.\n\t\t“Body-piercing school<\/span>” means a place or establishment licensed by the Board<\/span> to accept and train students in body-piercing.\n\t\t“Cosmetologist<\/span>” means any person who administers hair removal treatments; administers basic facial treatments to enhance or improve the appearance<\/span> and care of the skin using lotions, oils, cleansers, or other preparations by manual practices only; manicures or pedicures the nails of any person; arranges, dresses, curls, waves, cuts, shapes, singes, waxes, tweezes, trims, bleaches, colors, relaxes, straightens, or performs similar work, upon human hair, or a wig or hairpiece, by any means, including hands or mechanical or electrical apparatus or appliances unless such acts as adjusting, combing, or brushing prestyled wigs or hairpieces do not alter the prestyled nature of the wig or hairpiece, and practices cosmetology for compensation. The term “cosmetologist<\/span>” does not include hair braiding upon human hair or a wig or hairpiece.\n\t\t“Cosmetology” includes the following practices: administering hair removal treatments; administering basic cleansing facial treatments to enhance or improve the appearance<\/span> and care of the skin, which only includes a cleanse, tone, and application of a mask or moisturizer; manicuring or pedicuring the nails of any person; arranging, dressing, curling, waving, cutting, shaping, singeing, waxing, tweezing, trimming, bleaching, coloring, relaxing, straightening, or similar work, upon human hair, or a wig or hairpiece, by any means, including hands or mechanical or electrical apparatus or appliances, but shall not include hair braiding upon human hair, or a wig or hairpiece, or such acts as adjusting, combing, or brushing prestyled wigs or hairpieces when such acts do not alter the prestyled nature of the wig or hairpiece.\n\t\t“Cosmetology instructor<\/span>” means a person who has been certified by the Board<\/span> as having completed an approved curriculum and who meets the competency standards of the Board<\/span> as an instructor of cosmetology.\n\t\t“Cosmetology salon<\/span>” means any commercial establishment, residence, vehicle or other establishment, place or event wherein cosmetology is offered or practiced on a regular basis for compensation and may include the training of apprentices under regulations of the Board<\/span>.\n\t\t“Ear-piercer<\/span>” means any person who for remuneration penetrates the ear of a person to make a hole, mark, or scar, generally permanent in nature.\n\t\t“Ear-piercing” means the act of penetrating the ear of a person to make a hole, mark, or scar, generally permanent in nature.\n\t\t“Ear-piercing salon<\/span>” means any place in which a fee is charged for the act of penetrating the ear by the aid of needles or any other instrument designed to touch or puncture the skin.\n\t\t“Ear-piercing school<\/span>” means a place or establishment licensed by the Board<\/span> to accept and train students in ear-piercing.\n\t\t“Esthetician” means a person who engages in the practice of esthetics for compensation.\n\t\t“Esthetics” includes the following practices of administering cosmetic treatments to enhance or improve the appearance<\/span> of the skin: cleansing, toning, performing effleurage or other related movements, stimulating, exfoliating, or performing any other similar procedure on the skin of the human body or scalp by means of cosmetic preparations, treatments, or any nonlaser device, whether by electrical, mechanical, or manual means, for care of the skin; applying make-up or eyelashes to any person, tinting or perming eyelashes and eyebrows, and lightening hair on the body except the scalp; and removing unwanted hair from the body of any person by the use of any nonlaser device, by tweezing, or by use of chemical or mechanical means. However, “esthetics” is not a healing art and shall not include any practice, activity, or treatment that constitutes the practice of medicine, osteopathic medicine, or chiropractic. The terms “healing arts,”\"practice of medicine,”\"practice of osteopathic medicine,” and “practice of chiropractic<\/span>” shall mean the same as those terms are defined in \u00a7 54.1-2900<\/a>.\n\t\t“Esthetics instructor<\/span>” means a licensed esthetician who has been certified by the Board<\/span> as having completed an approved curriculum and who meets the competency standards of the Board<\/span> as an instructor of esthetics.\n\t\t“Esthetics spa<\/span>” means any commercial establishment, residence, vehicle, or other establishment, place, or event wherein esthetics is offered or practiced on a regular basis for compensation under regulations of the Board<\/span>.\n\t\t“Master barber<\/span>” means a licensed barber who, in addition to the practice of barbering<\/span>, performs waving, shaping, bleaching, relaxing, or straightening upon human hair; performs similar work on a wig or hairpiece; or performs waxing limited to the scalp.\n\t\t“Master esthetician<\/span>” means a licensed esthetician who, in addition to the practice of esthetics, offers to the public for compensation, without the use of laser technology, lymphatic drainage, chemical exfoliation, or microdermabrasion, and who has met such additional requirements as determined by the Board<\/span> to practice lymphatic drainage, chemical exfoliation with products other than Schedules<\/span> II through VI controlled substances as defined in the Drug Control Act (\u00a7 54.1-3400<\/a> et seq.), and microdermabrasion of the epidermis.\n\t\t“Nail care<\/span>” means manicuring or pedicuring natural nails or performing artificial nail services.\n\t\t“Nail salon<\/span>” means any commercial establishment, residence, vehicle or other establishment, place or event wherein nail care<\/span> is offered or practiced on a regular basis for compensation and may include the training of apprentices under regulations of the Board<\/span>.\n\t\t“Nail school<\/span>” means a place or establishment licensed by the board<\/span> to accept and train students in nail care<\/span>.\n\t\t“Nail technician” means any person who for compensation manicures or pedicures natural nails, or who performs artificial nail services for compensation, or any combination thereof.\n\t\t“Nail technician instructor<\/span>” means a licensed nail technician who has been certified by the Board<\/span> as having completed an approved curriculum and who meets the competency standards of the Board<\/span> as an instructor of nail care<\/span>.\n\t\t“Physical (wax) depilatory” means the wax depilatory product or substance used to remove superfluous hair.\n\t\t“School of cosmetology<\/span>” means a place or establishment licensed by the Board<\/span> to accept and train students and which offers a cosmetology curriculum approved by the Board<\/span>.\n\t\t“School of esthetics<\/span>” means a place or establishment licensed by the Board<\/span> to accept and train students and which offers an esthetics curriculum approved by the Board<\/span>.\n\t\t“Tattoo parlor<\/span>” means any place in which tattooing<\/span> is offered or practiced.\n\t\t“Tattoo school<\/span>” means a place or establishment licensed by the Board<\/span> to accept and train students in tattooing<\/span>.\n\t\t“Tattooer<\/span>” means any person who for remuneration practices tattooing<\/span>.\n\t\t“Tattooing<\/span>” means the placing of designs, letters, scrolls, figures, symbols or any other marks upon or under the skin of any person with ink or any other substance, resulting in the permanent coloration of the skin, including permanent make-up or permanent jewelry, by the aid of needles or any other instrument designed to touch or puncture the skin.\n\t\t“Wax technician” means any person licensed by the Board<\/span> who removes hair from the hair follicle using a physical (wax) depilatory or by tweezing.\n\t\t“Wax technician instructor<\/span>” means a licensed wax technician who has been certified by the Board<\/span> as having completed an approved curriculum and who meets the competency standards of the Board<\/span> as an instructor of waxing.\n\t\t“Waxing” means the temporary removal of superfluous hair from the hair follicle on any area of the human body through the use of a physical (wax) depilatory or by tweezing.\n\t\t“Waxing salon<\/span>” means any commercial establishment, residence, vehicle or other establishment, place or event wherein waxing is offered or practiced on a regular basis for compensation and may include the training of apprentices under regulations of the Board<\/span>.\n\t\t“Waxing school<\/span>” means a place or establishment licensed by the Board<\/span> to accept and train students in waxing.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nDEFINITIONS (\u00a7 54.1-700)\n\nAs used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t“Barber” means any person who shaves, shapes or trims the beard;\ncuts, singes, or dyes the hair or applies lotions thereto; applies, treats or\nmassages the face, neck or scalp with oils, creams, lotions, cosmetics,\nantiseptics, powders, clays or other preparations in connection with shaving,\ncutting or trimming the hair or beard, and practices barbering for compensation\nand when such services are not performed for the treatment of disease.\n\t\t“Barbering” means any one or any combination of the following\nacts, when done on the human body for compensation and not for the treatment of\ndisease, shaving, shaping and trimming the beard; cutting, singeing, or dyeing\nthe hair or applying lotions thereto; applications, treatment or massages of the\nface, neck or scalp with oils, creams, lotions, cosmetics, antiseptics, powders,\nclays, or other preparations in connection with shaving, cutting or trimming the\nhair or a beard. The term “barbering” shall not apply to the acts\ndescribed hereinabove when performed by any person in his home if such service\nis not offered to the public.\n\t\t“Barber instructor” means any person who has been certified by the\nBoard as having completed an approved curriculum and who meets the competency\nstandards of the Board as an instructor of barbering.\n\t\t“Barbershop” means any establishment or place of business within\nwhich the practice of barbering is engaged in or carried on by one or more\nbarbers.\n\t\t“Board” means the Board for Barbers and Cosmetology.\n\t\t“Body-piercer” means any person who for remuneration penetrates\nthe skin of a person to make a hole, mark, or scar, generally permanent in\nnature.\n\t\t“Body-piercing” means the act of penetrating the skin of a person\nto make a hole, mark, or scar, generally permanent in nature.\n\t\t“Body-piercing salon” means any place in which a fee is charged\nfor the act of penetrating the skin of a person to make a hole, mark, or scar,\ngenerally permanent in nature.\n\t\t“Body-piercing school” means a place or establishment licensed by\nthe Board to accept and train students in body-piercing.\n\t\t“Cosmetologist” means any person who administers hair removal\ntreatments; administers basic facial treatments to enhance or improve the\nappearance and care of the skin using lotions, oils, cleansers, or other\npreparations by manual practices only; manicures or pedicures the nails of any\nperson; arranges, dresses, curls, waves, cuts, shapes, singes, waxes, tweezes,\ntrims, bleaches, colors, relaxes, straightens, or performs similar work, upon\nhuman hair, or a wig or hairpiece, by any means, including hands or mechanical\nor electrical apparatus or appliances unless such acts as adjusting, combing, or\nbrushing prestyled wigs or hairpieces do not alter the prestyled nature of the\nwig or hairpiece, and practices cosmetology for compensation. The term\n“cosmetologist” does not include hair braiding upon human hair or a\nwig or hairpiece.\n\t\t“Cosmetology” includes the following practices: administering hair\nremoval treatments; administering basic cleansing facial treatments to enhance\nor improve the appearance and care of the skin, which only includes a cleanse,\ntone, and application of a mask or moisturizer; manicuring or pedicuring the\nnails of any person; arranging, dressing, curling, waving, cutting, shaping,\nsingeing, waxing, tweezing, trimming, bleaching, coloring, relaxing,\nstraightening, or similar work, upon human hair, or a wig or hairpiece, by any\nmeans, including hands or mechanical or electrical apparatus or appliances, but\nshall not include hair braiding upon human hair, or a wig or hairpiece, or such\nacts as adjusting, combing, or brushing prestyled wigs or hairpieces when such\nacts do not alter the prestyled nature of the wig or hairpiece.\n\t\t“Cosmetology instructor” means a person who has been certified by\nthe Board as having completed an approved curriculum and who meets the\ncompetency standards of the Board as an instructor of cosmetology.\n\t\t“Cosmetology salon” means any commercial establishment, residence,\nvehicle or other establishment, place or event wherein cosmetology is offered or\npracticed on a regular basis for compensation and may include the training of\napprentices under regulations of the Board.\n\t\t“Ear-piercer” means any person who for remuneration penetrates the\near of a person to make a hole, mark, or scar, generally permanent in nature.\n\t\t“Ear-piercing” means the act of penetrating the ear of a person to\nmake a hole, mark, or scar, generally permanent in nature.\n\t\t“Ear-piercing salon” means any place in which a fee is charged for\nthe act of penetrating the ear by the aid of needles or any other instrument\ndesigned to touch or puncture the skin.\n\t\t“Ear-piercing school” means a place or establishment licensed by\nthe Board to accept and train students in ear-piercing.\n\t\t“Esthetician” means a person who engages in the practice of\nesthetics for compensation.\n\t\t“Esthetics” includes the following practices of administering\ncosmetic treatments to enhance or improve the appearance of the skin: cleansing,\ntoning, performing effleurage or other related movements, stimulating,\nexfoliating, or performing any other similar procedure on the skin of the human\nbody or scalp by means of cosmetic preparations, treatments, or any nonlaser\ndevice, whether by electrical, mechanical, or manual means, for care of the\nskin; applying make-up or eyelashes to any person, tinting or perming eyelashes\nand eyebrows, and lightening hair on the body except the scalp; and removing\nunwanted hair from the body of any person by the use of any nonlaser device, by\ntweezing, or by use of chemical or mechanical means. However,\n“esthetics” is not a healing art and shall not include any practice,\nactivity, or treatment that constitutes the practice of medicine, osteopathic\nmedicine, or chiropractic. The terms “healing arts,”\"practice of\nmedicine,”\"practice of osteopathic medicine,” and “practice of\nchiropractic” shall mean the same as those terms are defined in \u00a7\n54.1-2900.\n\t\t“Esthetics instructor” means a licensed esthetician who has been\ncertified by the Board as having completed an approved curriculum and who meets\nthe competency standards of the Board as an instructor of esthetics.\n\t\t“Esthetics spa” means any commercial establishment, residence,\nvehicle, or other establishment, place, or event wherein esthetics is offered or\npracticed on a regular basis for compensation under regulations of the Board.\n\t\t“Master barber” means a licensed barber who, in addition to the\npractice of barbering, performs waving, shaping, bleaching, relaxing, or\nstraightening upon human hair; performs similar work on a wig or hairpiece; or\nperforms waxing limited to the scalp.\n\t\t“Master esthetician” means a licensed esthetician who, in addition\nto the practice of esthetics, offers to the public for compensation, without the\nuse of laser technology, lymphatic drainage, chemical exfoliation, or\nmicrodermabrasion, and who has met such additional requirements as determined by\nthe Board to practice lymphatic drainage, chemical exfoliation with products\nother than Schedules II through VI controlled substances as defined in the Drug\nControl Act (\u00a7 54.1-3400 et seq.), and microdermabrasion of the epidermis.\n\t\t“Nail care” means manicuring or pedicuring natural nails or\nperforming artificial nail services.\n\t\t“Nail salon” means any commercial establishment, residence,\nvehicle or other establishment, place or event wherein nail care is offered or\npracticed on a regular basis for compensation and may include the training of\napprentices under regulations of the Board.\n\t\t“Nail school” means a place or establishment licensed by the board\nto accept and train students in nail care.\n\t\t“Nail technician” means any person who for compensation manicures\nor pedicures natural nails, or who performs artificial nail services for\ncompensation, or any combination thereof.\n\t\t“Nail technician instructor” means a licensed nail technician who\nhas been certified by the Board as having completed an approved curriculum and\nwho meets the competency standards of the Board as an instructor of nail care.\n\t\t“Physical (wax) depilatory” means the wax depilatory product or\nsubstance used to remove superfluous hair.\n\t\t“School of cosmetology” means a place or establishment licensed by\nthe Board to accept and train students and which offers a cosmetology curriculum\napproved by the Board.\n\t\t“School of esthetics” means a place or establishment licensed by\nthe Board to accept and train students and which offers an esthetics curriculum\napproved by the Board.\n\t\t“Tattoo parlor” means any place in which tattooing is offered or\npracticed.\n\t\t“Tattoo school” means a place or establishment licensed by the\nBoard to accept and train students in tattooing.\n\t\t“Tattooer” means any person who for remuneration practices\ntattooing.\n\t\t“Tattooing” means the placing of designs, letters, scrolls,\nfigures, symbols or any other marks upon or under the skin of any person with\nink or any other substance, resulting in the permanent coloration of the skin,\nincluding permanent make-up or permanent jewelry, by the aid of needles or any\nother instrument designed to touch or puncture the skin.\n\t\t“Wax technician” means any person licensed by the Board who\nremoves hair from the hair follicle using a physical (wax) depilatory or by\ntweezing.\n\t\t“Wax technician instructor” means a licensed wax technician who\nhas been certified by the Board as having completed an approved curriculum and\nwho meets the competency standards of the Board as an instructor of waxing.\n\t\t“Waxing” means the temporary removal of superfluous hair from the\nhair follicle on any area of the human body through the use of a physical (wax)\ndepilatory or by tweezing.\n\t\t“Waxing salon” means any commercial establishment, residence,\nvehicle or other establishment, place or event wherein waxing is offered or\npracticed on a regular basis for compensation and may include the training of\napprentices under regulations of the Board.\n\t\t“Waxing school” means a place or establishment licensed by the\nBoard to accept and train students in waxing.\n\nHISTORY: 1962, c. 639, \u00a7 1, \u00a7 54-83.2; 1966, c. 610; 1973, c. 86; 1974, c.\n534; 1988, c. 765; 2000, c. 726; 2002, cc. 797, 869; 2003, c. 600; 2005, c. 829;\n2012, cc. 803, 835; 2017, c. 390; 2018, cc. 219, 231, 237, 404; 2025, cc. 102,\n308, 322.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}